Collating machine



Nov. 1, 1955 R. B. SMITH 2,722,414

COLLATING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l ROBERTS- .SMIT'H.

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Filed April 24., 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ROBERT ASH/T4 F IE. 6 /-//5 4 rroe/vm s E Q m Nov. 1, 1955 R. B. SMITH COLLATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 24, 1951 Nov. 1, 1955 R. B. SMITH COLLATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Rosam- 8,.SNlT/l.

Filed April 24, 1951 HIS flTTOENEYS Nov. 1, 1955 R. B. SMITH 2,722,414 COLLATING MACHINE Filed April 24, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 'INVENTOR. ROBERT a. 91:711.

20 m; JIEJO BY 39kg H/S HTTOE/VEYS United States Patent COLLATING MACHINE Robert B. Smith, Dayton,

Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Application April 24, 1951, Serial No. 222,629 12 Claims. (Cl. 270-58) This invention relates to a collating machine and more particularly to an improved type of collating machine in which means is provided for applying adhesive to certain of the sheets being collated.

A large number of different types of collating machines have been devised from time with varying degrees of success. However, the problem of providing a collating machine capable of handling light weight sheets, such as carbon paper, as well as heavier sheets of paper or a plurality of preassembled sheets, has been the cause of much trouble in most, if not all, of the prior collating machines. Most known collating machines are designed to handle single sheets of certain types of paper and will work satisfactorily only so long as all conditions are ideal, but fail to function properly when other types of paper are to be collated. It has been found that some of the difiiculty in prior collating machines has been caused by the malfunctioning of the sheet pick-up means. It has now been discovered that whereas the prior sheet pick-up mechanisms made use of a low capacity, high vacuum pump for producing the suction in the pick-up heads, it is preferable to reduce the amount of suction and to increase the volume of air handled by the suction producing pump or fan. In most prior art pick-up heads, the failure of a sheet to cover one or more of the suction ports in one of the pick-up heads would so affect the vacuum in the other pick-up heads as to produce malfunctioning of the pick-up heads. In the collating machine disclosed herein, the vacuum producing means does not attempt to create a high degree of vacuum but has sufiicient volumetric capacity so that the suction at any one suction port is relatively unaffected by the number of additional ports which may be open.

Another advantage of the above described suction arrangement is that there is less tendency for the pick-up head to pick up two sheets of paper at once, since the amount of vacuum is not enough to pull air through the thinnest papers which would be handled by a collating machine.

It is another object of this invention to provide a collating machine having a pick-up head capable of handling various types and sizes of sheets.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved pick-up arrangement for transferring sheets from feeders onto a conveyor which is capable of handling individual thin sheets of paper, as well as an assembly of two or more sheets. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a pick-up system in which the pickup head is provided with a large number of minute air ports and in which the suction producing means is capable of handling a large volume of air, whereby several pick-up heads may be connected to the same source of suction and each will properly function even though the ports in one or more of the other pick-up heads are left uncovered.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved delivery platform arrangement in which it is possible to apply adhesive material to one or-more of the to time which have operated I lating machine in which sheets while the sheets are traveling along on the delivery platform.

It is another object of this invention to provide a delivery platform having means for holding one sheet in an elevated position while a second sheet with adhesive thereon is fed underneath the first sheet.

A further object of this invention is to provide a colimproved means is provided for obtaining and maintaining accurate alignment of the respective sheets or groups of sheets to be collated.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly schematic, showing the arrangement of the delivery table with respect to the feeders;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary end view with some parts broken away and some parts omitted for sake of clarity so as to show the relationship between one of the pickup heads and the delivery table;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective View, somewhat schematic, showing the main power source and its relationship to the various drive shafts;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the cam which operates the pick-up heads;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view with parts broken away and looking upwardly at the bottom side of the pick-up heads as indicated by the arrows and line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the central portion of the pick-up head shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the latch which holds the slide valve in the pick-up head in the open position;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the rear side of the sealer mechanism and showing the mechanism at the delivery end of the collator;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away, showing one side of the adhesive applying mechanism;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view showing the opposite side of the adhesive applying mechanism;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary plan view showing the adhesive applying mechanism;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts broken away, showing the construction and arrangement of the adhesive applying fingers;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the construction of the gripper operating mechanism;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the arrangement of the sealer mechanism; and

Figure 15 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the arrangement of the sealer mechanism.

Feeders and delivery platform Referring now to the drawings wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference numeral It) generally designates the main frame which supports the various component parts of the collating machine. Reference numeral 12 generally designates conventional sheet feeders or elevating mechanisms of the type commonly used for maintaining stacks of sheets at the proper height adjacent sheet pick-up mechanisms. Inasmuch as feeders of this type are well known in the art and inasmuch as the details of construction of the individual feeders are broadly immaterial, except as hereinafter explained, they will not be described in detail. The number of feeders provided may be varied. For purposes of illustration, three feeders have been shown, whereas aditional feeders could be used.

The feeders 12 are mounted side by side adjacent a delivery platform general'ly designated by the reference numeral 14. The platform 14 is pivotally mounted to swing about a shaft 16 which isjournaled in bearings.18 carried by the feeders 12. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2', the delivery platform consists of a longitudinally extending framework consisting of a pair of side panels 20 which serve to rot'at'ably'support a pair of' transversely extending shafts 22 and 24' disposed adjacent opposite ends of the delivery platform. As shown in. Figure 2,v the shaft 22, located adjacent the delivery end of the platform, is provided with a pinion 26 which is driven by means of the pinion 28-carried' by the shaft 16 which is journal'ed on the feeders 12 as shown. The shafts22 and 24' are. provided with suitable gears. 30 which cooperate with endless chains. 32 which extend throughout the major length. of the delivery platform and which are provided. with projecting sheet moving fingers 34. The. sheet moving, fingers 34 project through longitudinally extending, slots 36 formed in the top surface 38 of the main delivery platform. The construction and arrangement is. such that sheets delivered onto the delivery platform are moved longitudinally thereof by means of the. fingers or pins 34' which are suitably spaced from one another at predetermined intervals along the length of. the endless chains 32 so as to successively engage and. transfer the sheets. delivered onto the delivery platform. As. shown, the delivery platform is tilted so asto cause the sheetswhich are dropped thereon to slide down to the stop or guide 42 at the lower edge of the platform.

By varying the angle at. which the delivery platform is tilted, it is possible to vary the rate at which. sheets delivered onto the platform slide towardsthe side guide member 42 so as to compensate for differences in the type of sheets being collated. The angle of tilt may be varied by means of the adjusting screw (.see Figure 2). In asmuch as the delivery platform swings aboutv the shaft 16, it is obvious that the angle of tilt may be varied at will without adjusting or interfering with the operation of the drive mechanism. The shaft 16 is driven from the motor 160 through a series of drive mechanisms to be described hereinafter.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, a relatively short elevated delivery platform or shelf 44 is located opposite one of the feeders, so that a sheet fed fromthis-one feeder will be held in an elevated position while another sheet moves thereunder and both. sheets will then be moved together and the upper sheet will. be shoved off from. the elevated' platform by the pins 34. As shown in Figurev 2,

the elevated platform 44 is provided with slots 46 through which the feed fingers 34 project so that. the fingers 34 will simultaneously engage sheets both on the main platform or guide surface 38 and the elevated platform or shelf 44', so as to properly align. the two sheets and then move. them in unisonso that the upper sheet will drop down onto the lower sheet in exact alignment therewith. This is an important feature in a. collator of this type wherein adhesive is applied to the lowermost sheet or set of sheets.

Pick-up heads and pick-up head operating mechanism The mechanism for transferring sheets of paper from the feeders 12 onto the delivery platform 14 comprises a plurality of feeder heads generally designated by the referencenumeral 50, as best shown. in Figures 2, 5, 6- and 7'. Each pick-up head is slidably supported by means of a pair of guide bars 52' which bridge the delivery platform and which are pivotally mounted. at 53- on the main frame 10, so as to allow the pick-up head to move down into contact with the top sheet on the feeder in accordance with well known practice. Each headis adapted to be connected to a suction line 54 which is. connected toa header 56 by means of a flexible connection 57. The header 56 in turn. is connected. to a suction producingpump: or blower 59 driven by the main motor 160.

Whereas it has been customary practice in collating machines and the like to utilize a small amount of air flow at a very high degree of suction and a small number of suction ports located in such a manner as to be totally closed by means of sheets of paper handled by the pick-up heads, it has been discovered that by using considerably less suction but more air,. it ispossible to much more effectively pick up and transfer sheets. from the feeders onto the delivery platform. Thus, it has been customary practice in the prior art to utilize a: suction somewhere between 10 inches to 20 inches of mercury and to handle somewhere from 5 to 10 cubic feet of free air per minute at the maximum, whereas it is preferred to provide a suction of approximately 4 inches of mercury and to provide a suction producing means capable of handling up to 40 cubic feet of free air per minute for a collating machine having five feeders and five pick-up heads.

As best shown in Figure 5,. each pick-up head. includes a longitudinally extendingpick-up tube 58. which is provided with a large number of small holes 60 adjacent its one edge. It has been found that by using a 16 inch tube having approximately 60 holes, each of which is 7 inch in diameter with a suction corresponding to only 4 inches of mercury, it is possible to pick up both small and large sheets of paper whether they be thick or thin and whether they cover all of the holes or only a portion of the holes.

Rather than using the conventional type of pivoted or butterfly type of valve, the flow of air is controlled by means of a slidable valve 62 pivoted on a pin 64 so as to open and close the port 66. The reason for using a slidable valve of this type rather than a butterfly type of valveis that when handling such a high volume of air, the flow of air through the valve port would be inclined to interfere with proper operation of a butterfly type of valve. The valve 62 is biased to the closed position by the spring 68. A pivoted bell crank type of latch is used for latching the valve in the open position against the force of the spring 68.

During the pick-up stroke the valve 62 is held in the open position by the latch 70, but as the pick-up head moves directly over the point where it is desired tov drop the sheet of paper onto the delivery platform, a latch operating plunger 72 strikes the downwardly projecting. arm of the bell crank latch 70 so as to disengage the latch from the valve, whereby the valve closes and. cuts. off the suction to the pick-up tube 58, with the result. that the sheet held thereby falls by gravity onto the inclined surface of the delivery platform.

The valve closing plunger 72 is operated by the cam 74 which acts through the plunger 76. and the bell. crank 78, as shown in Figure 2. The cam- 74 is operated. in

synchronism with the rest of the moving parts of the collating machine, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.. An adjusting screw 'has been provided for adjusting the movement of the plunger 72, so as to effect the release of the sheet of paper at exactly the right point. Once the valve: 621 moves tothe closed position so as to drop the sheet of paperontothe delivery platform, itremains closed until the pick-up head moves over onto the sheet feeder soas to pick upa: new sheet ofpaper. As the pick-up headthus moves to a point above the sheet feeder, it is lowered into contact with the. sheets in thestack and at this point the valve actuating device 82, which is mounted above the feeder, engages the upper end of the pivoted valve operating lever 84' so as to move the valve into the open position. The means for lowering the. pick-up head and for operating the camelement 82 may take any conventional form. For purposes of illustration,, a. cam 20!! carried by the gear 206 has been shown for actuating the lever 207a which servesto raise and: lower the. pick-up head 50- and to operate the. valve actuator 82. Once the: valve. moves into the open. position, the latch 70 holds it in that positiorr until. the pick-- 5 up head again returns to the position over the delivery platform. 7

It has been found that if the tail end of a sheet being transferred from the feeder onto the delivery platform is allowed to drag, the dragging effect will interfere with the proper movement of the sheet. This is particularly true when the collator is used for handling larger size sheets or sheets having crease marks or the like therein, and for this reason each of the pick-up heads is provided with a pair of extension tubes 86 (see Figures 1 and 2) provided with auxiliary suction heads 88 which prevent the trailing edge of the sheet from dragging. As shown in Figure 1, an air blast tube 85 is arranged adjacent each of the feeders 12 to direct blasts of air against the rear edges of the uppermost sheets on the feeders. This serves to separate the rear portion of the uppermost sheet on each of the feeders from the sheet therebelow, so that movement of the top sheet by the pick-up head will not cause it to drag along any of the other sheets. In order to prevent oil from being blown with the air onto the sheets, the oil is removed from air in an oil trap 87. This trap consists of a transparent cylinder 89 filled with granules of activated alumina which absorb the oil. The air is fed into the cylinder in a tangential direction as shown, so as to utilize the centrifugal force of the oil itself to separate the oil from the air which leaves the far end of the cylinder at the center as shown. The activated alumina may be reactivated when saturated with oil or a fresh supply may be substituted as needed.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, a U-shaped wire paper guide 90 projects outwardly from the feeder and further serves to hold the trailing edge of the sheet from prematurely contacting the delivery platform. The free ends of the U-shaped wire guide 90 are adjustably supported by wire clamping guides 92 carried by the frame, so as to make it possible to adjust the position of the guide for sheets of different sizes. In order to simplify the disclosure, only one guide 90 and only one air blast tube 85 has been shown, whereas each of the feeders would be thus equipped.

Adhesive applying mechanism The collator shown and described herein is intended to be used in collating sets of sheets in which the sheets of a given set are glued together. The gluing operation is performed by the collating machine in a manner now to be explained. In order to simplify this disclosure, only one glue applying device has been shown, whereas in actual operation additional gluing'devices may be provided along the one edge of the delivery platform. The number of these devices provided will, of course, be determined by the number of sets of sheets to be glued together by the collator.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 9 through 12, the gluing device consists of a main frame 100 pivotally mounted to the side wall of the delivery platform framework 20 by means of a pivot pin 102. By virtue of the above described pivotal arrangement, it is possible to adjust the height of the gluing device relative to the guide plate or platform 38 over which the sheets of paper pass, so as to compensate for any difference in the thickness of the sheets or any variation in the number of sheets passing under the gluing device. The free end of the frame 100 may be raised or lowered by adjusting the screw 104" carried by the delivery platform frame 20. Once the frame 100 is properly adjusted, it may be firmly held in adjusted position by tightening the bolt 106 which passes through the arcuate slot 107 in the frame 100, as shown in Figure 10.

The glue or adhesive material to be applied to the paper is placed in a receptacle 108 carried by the frame 100. A drum or disc 110 is rotatably supported by the receptacle 108 so as to dip into the receptacle. An adjustable scraper 112 is provided, as shown, for scraping excess adhesive material from the surface of the disc. As best 6 shown in Figure 10, the drum is driven by means of the chain 114,. which in turn is driven through suitable drive mechanism including the gears and 117 and the chain 116, so as to operate in synchronism with the rest of the collating mechanism, as will be explained more fully hereinafter. The chain 116 operates the driven shaft 118 on which a gear wheel 120 is mounted. The gear wheel 12!) operates a sprocket chain 122 which passes over a pair of idler sprockets 124 and 126 (see Figure 9) and which serves to support a plurality of spring mounted adhesive applying fingers 128. As best shown in Figure 12, each of the fingers 128 is mounted on a blade spring 130 carried by the sprocket chain 122 as shown. As these fingers 128 pass over the adhesive applying disc 110, the end of each will pick up a small quantity of adhesive material for depositing on the sheets traveling on the delivery platform. In order to insure each finger moving into contact with the paper traveling on the delivery platform, a disc 132 mounted on the main drive shaft 118 is provided for contacting the spring 130. As shown in Figure 12, an aperture 131 is provided in the top 38 of the delivery platform at the point where the fingers 118 press against the sheets moving on the platform. A splash guard 134 has been provided, as shown in Figure 9, so as to prevent any drops of adhesive material which may drip from the fingers 118 from falling onto the paper therebelow. A spring finger 136, carried by the side guide rail 43, serves to remove any bulge or wrinkle in the sheets of paper as they pass beneath the glue applying fingers 128. It will be observed that only a portion of the sprocket chain 122 is provided with adhesive applying fingers and the reason for this is that there is a space or gap between adjacent sheets traveling over the delivery platform and it is not desirable to have adhesive applying fingers at the points corresponding to the gaps between the adjacent sheets traveling on the delivery platform. The number of adhesive applying fingers 128 provided may be varied to suit the size of the sheets handled by the collator merely by removing or adding chain links of the type having the adhesive applying fingers carried thereby.

It will be noted that the adhesive is applied as a series of spaced dots of adhesive. Any type of adhesive material may be used. The type of adhesive used will be determined in part by the material being collated. For some purposes one could, for example, use a synthetic rubber type of pressure responsive adhesive material, if desired. The adhesive applying device shown for pur poses of illustrating the invention is located at a point between the first sheet feeder 12 and the second sheet feeder, so that the sheet picked up from the first feeder and delivered onto the delivery platform is required to pass the adhesive applying means before the sheet passes the second feeder. As explained hereinabove, the sheet fed onto the delivery platform from the second feeder is delivered onto an auxiliary delivery platform 42 which is raised from the main delivery platform 38, so that the second sheet fed by the collator is not required to slide down across the adhesive on the first sheet. However, as the fingers 34 move the sheets longitudinally on the delivery platform, the sheet on the elevated platform 44 will be allowed to drop directly down onto the lowermost sheet as the two sheets pass beyond the point where the auxiliary or upper platform terminates. This upper platform extends only a distance corresponding substantially to the width of the one sheet feeder.

It is desirable to provide means for firmly pressing the sheets together before they leave the delivery platform. For this purpose there is provided a pair of rollers 138 and 140 adjacent the delivery end of the platform which are driven in synchronism with the movement of the paper on the delivery platform and which serve to press the sheets of paper into engagement with one another, so as to cause the pressure sensitive adhesive to cause firm adherence between the adjacent sheets of paper.

Power source and power transmitting mechanism The power for operating the collator isderived from a motor 160' (see Figure 3) supported on the main frame 10'. The motor is belt connected to. a shaft 162 which. transmits power to the gear reduction device 164. A magnetic brake 166 is provided, as shown, for instantaneously stopping the operation of. the device in response to operation of a control switch not shown. A slow speed shaft 168, which constitutes the output shaft of the gear reduction. mechanism 164, is provided with a cam element 170 and a sprocket wheel 172. The cam element 170' actuates the cam. follower 174. (see Figure 4) carried on the free end' of the rocker arm 176 which is pivotally mounted on. the stationary framework 177 as shown. Suitable spring means 178 biases the cam follower into engagement with the cam element 170 at all times. The free end of the rocker arm 176i is connected to one end of a connecting lever 179 which hasits other end. connected to a lever arm 181 to the shaft 180. Operation' of the rocker arm serves to oscillate the shaft 180, which in turn is provided with crank arms 182 for reciprocating the feeder heads. 50..

Each. crank arm 182 is pivotally connected to a pitman 184, which in turn is pivotally connected to the upper end of the feeder head, as best shown in, Figure 2, so

that as the cam element. 170' rotates, the feeder heads are caused to reciprocate back and forth for transferring sheets of paper from the feeder 12 onto the delivery platform. A jack shaft 186, having aplurality of sprocket wheels 188, 190 and 192 thereon, is driven from the shaft 168 by the sprocket chain. 194,. as shown in Figure 3. The sprocket wheel 190 a sprocketchain 196, which in turn drives another. jack shaft 198. A sprocket wheel 199 on the. jack shaft 198 operates. a. chain 201 whichv drives. the. shaft. 16-, which in turn operates the. endless chains on the. delivery platform as explained hereinabove. drives the chain 210 which operates the paper gripper and jogger mechanism located. at the discharge end of the delivery platform, aswill. be described more fully hereinafter. A sprocket. wheel 192 cooperates with a sprocket chain 200 which. drives the sprocket 202 mounted on the end of the. cam

in. Figure 1, the jack shaft 198. is provided with. a gear 204 which. drives a complementary gear 206 which constitutes the drive. gear for the feeder 12. As explained hereinabove, the feeders 12 are intended: to. designateconventional feedersand since feedersof thisgeneral type are notoriously old, no further description. needv be given. As best shown. in Figures 8, 14 and 15, the drive shaft 22, located adjacent one end of the delivery plat. form, for operating the endless chains. which move the sheets along on the delivery platform, is provided. with a sprocket 137' on its one end' for operating the chain- 150 which. inturn operates the shaft 139. A gear is keyed to the shaft 139- and this drives a gear 137 through which the sprocket chain- 141 is operated. The. chain 141 transmits power. toa short jack shaft 143 as: shown. A chain 145 driven from this jack shaft drives upper roller 138 issupported for rotation at the. end.

of an oscillatable' arm 147 which has itsone end mounted on the shaft 143, as best shown in Figure 14;

In order to control the: amount of downward pressure exerted by the roller 138 on the sheets. of paper, passing;

under the roller, the arm. 147- is provided with. an up wardly projecting; weight supporting. rod 149 which; is

adapted to.-- support; a variable number of weights desigsecured cooperates with The shaft 198 also shaft 74. (:see Figures 1 and 2'). which operates the valve mechanism in the pick-up. headsin the manner explained hereinabove. As best shown .1, drives. a. pinion- 214 keyed to the nated; by the reference numeral. 151. The rod 149 has adjustably secured thereto stop means 153 which cooperates with: a: fixed stop 155 carried by the supporting framework as shown. This stop arrangement makes it possible to limit the maximum downward movementof the: roller 138. By virtue of this arrangement, the pressure exerted by the; roller. 138 may be varied so asto compensate for differences in the thickness of the paper as well as. differences. in the number of sheets of paper being collated. Since: the peripheral velocities of the rollers 138. and 140 are synchronized with the linear velocity of the sheets of paper moving along onthe delivery platform, it isobvious that these rollers do not exert any pressure tending. to dislocate the collated sheets.

Mechanism for removing sheets from delivery platform As the collated sheets move toward the end of the delivery platform, it is desirable to transfer the sheets 3 onto a jogger platform where the sheets are neatly livers power to, the. jogger operating shaft 208 by means The one end of the shaft 208 is;provided with a pinion 209 which drives a pinion 211 on. the. shaft. 213. A sprocket chain. 215' transmits power from. the shaft 213 tow a sprocket wheel 215 which is provided with. aneccentric. pin- 217 which operates a pitman. 219 connected. to. the slide 221 which carries. a jogger arm 223 for pushing the sheets. delivered onto the platform 270. neatly against a stop 225.

Keyed to the shaft 208. is. a, second pinion 212 which lower end of the shaft 216. Theupper endof the shaft 216 has keyedthereto a disc. 218 which serves to rotatably support a. shaft 220 adjacent its. one. edge. The. shaft 220 carries a. pinion 222 on. its lower end which cooperates with a fixed gear 224 which is non-rotatably supported by the main collator frame as shown. The upper end of the shaft 220 is provided' with aneccentric 230' which operates in aslot' 232. provided: in a crossbar 234 rigidly secured to a. slide member 236.

By virtue of the above described mechanical arrangement, operation of the. motor causes reciprocation of the slide bar. 236- in such a manner that the sheets of paper are most expeditiously removed from the delivery platform and dropped onto the jogger. The eccentric 230- serves. to. cause the reciprocating member 236 to operate veryslowlyat each end of the reciprocating stroke but to operate rapidly. in. between the ends of the stroke. The slide member 236 is drivingly connected tov a lever 238. which has, its lower end pivotally connected to the of. the. sprocket chain 210.

7 main collator frame: 10 and which has its upper arm drivingly connected. toa. pitman 240. The pitman 240 actuates a slidemember 2.42 which carries a gripper mechanism. for removing the sheets from the delivery platform. and for dropping them onto the jogger platform 270..

As best shown in Figures 8 and 13, the gripper mechanism includes a finger-like; member 244 which is fixed to the slide element 242: and carries a sponge rubber pad 246 asshown-.. The finger 2144" is arranged: slightly higher than the topsurface 38 of the delivery platform (see Figure 13), so that as the finger moves over onto the delivery" platform to pick up a set of collated sheets, it will clear the: topsurface thereof.

A movable gripper finger 248 is pivotally supported on t apin' 2'50: carried by the slide support 242' and is aligned withxone. of the longitudinally extending slots in the delivery' platform, so that the platform is not in the way of the: operation ofthe' gripper mechanism. This movable finger is provided with gear teeth. 252- which mesh with A gear: teeth ona rack. 25.4. as: shown. The rack 254 is adapted to be operated by a lever 256 which also is'pro vided with gear teeth at its lower end, as shown, for engaging gear teeth on the rack 254. The lever 256 is fixed to the shaft 258 which also has fixed thereto an operating lever 260. A spring 262 biases the lever 260 into the position in which it is shown in Figure 13 and when the lever 260 occupies the position shown, the pivoted finger 248 presses against the sponge rubber pad 246 carried by the finger 244, so as to grip a set of col-' lated sheets 245 as shown. When the slide 242 moves towards the end of the delivery platform for the purpose of picking up a set of collated sheets, the fingers are held in a separated position by means of the latch 264 which is pivotally secured to the support 242, as shown. A spring 266 normally biases the latch into latching position. However, when the slide 242 moves to pick up sheets from the delivery platform, a latch tripping member 268 moves the latch 264 out of latching engagement with the lever 256, so that the spring 262 will actuate the mechanism for raising the free end of the finger 248 into engagement with the bottom side of the collated sheets 245, so as to lift the sheets upwardly into firm engagement with the sponge rubber pad 246.

After the fingers have gripped the collated sheets, the operating mechanism will cause the slide 242 which carries the fingers to move away from the end of the delivery platform, so as to drop the sheets onto a jogger platform 270. A stop element 271 is provided at the end of the delivery platform, as shown in Figure 13, to stop the sheets from sliding off the end of the platform before the gripper mechanism comes to remove the sheets, but the finger 248 lifts the paper over this stop element.

As shown in Figure 8, the latch tripping member 268 is actuated by a revolving cam 280 which is operated in synchronism with the rest of the mechanism through the chain drive 282 which drivingly connects the cam 280 to the shaft 213.

An adjustable tripping cam 272, adjustably mounted on the fixed crossbar 273, is provided as shown and is adapted to cooperate with the roller on the free end of the lever 260, so as to oscillate the lever 260 against the force of the spring 262 in a direction so as to quickly pull the lower finger 248 downwardly and release the grip of the fingers on the sheets of paper. Once the cam 272 actuates the lever 260 so as to open the fingers, the fingers will be latched in the open position by the latch 264 until the slide 242 moves next to the delivery platform, at which time the stop 268 will again release the latch 264.

The platform 270 is preferably of the type that automatically lowers itself so as to maintain the top sheet thereon at a predetermined height. Platforms of this type are well known in the industry and for that reason, and in order not to encumber this description with needless details, a description of the mechanism for lowering the platform 270 will not be given. Any conventional operating mechanism may be used for this purpose.

Collating machines of the type shown herein are adapted to be operated at high speeds, and in order to reduce the inertia of the pick-up heads which are required to move back and forth across the delivery platform, these pick-up heads are preferably made of light weight metal or plastic. The advantage of plastic over metal is that plastic material is much lighter in weight than metals of the type that one would use for this purpose.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a collator, a plurality of feeders, a conveyor,

10 means for supporting said conveyor for movement past said feeders, means for transferring sheets from said feeders onto said conveyor, and means for tiltably supporting said conveyor, means for adjusting the angular relationship between the conveyor and the sheets trans ferred from the feeders onto the conveyor.

2. In a collator, a plurality of feeders, a delivery platform, longitudinally extending guide means on said delivery platform, said platform being tilted downwardly towards said guide means, a conveyor for moving sheets lengthwise on said delivery platform, means for picking up sheets from said feeders and dropping them onto said delivery platform, and means for pivotally supporting said platform, means for adjusting the angle of tilt of said platform so as to compensate for differences in the rate at which papers fed onto said platform slide down to said guide means.

3. In a collator, a plurality of feeders, a longitudinally extending table arranged adjacent said feeders, means for transferring sheets from said feeders onto said table, means for pivotally supporting said table, means for adjusting the angular relationship between the table and the sheets being transferred from the feeders onto the table, and means for moving sheets fed onto said table longitudinally, said last named means comprising endless chain means carried by said table and having sheet engaging means projecting above the top surface of said table.

4. In a collator, a main frame, a plurality of aligned feeders, a conveyor disposed adjacent said feeders, means for transferring sheets from said feeders onto said conveyor, said conveyor comprising a longitudinally extending table arranged adjacent said feeders and means for moving sheets fed onto said table longitudinally, said last named means comprising endless chain means having sheet engaging means secured to the chain means at spaced intervals and projecting above the top surface of said table, first and second shaft means arranged adjacent opposite ends of said table for supporting said endless chain means, third shaft means extending alongside of said table and secured to said frame, means for imparting rotation to said third shaft means, means for transmitting power from said third shaft means to said first named shaft means, means for supporting said table for oscillation about said third named shaft means, adjustable means for pivotally moving said table.

5. In a collator, a plurality of feeders, a conveyor assembly including sheet moving means, means for supporting said conveyor assembly adjacent said feeders, means for transferring sheets from said feeders onto said conveyor assembly, means for pivotally supporting said conveyor assembly, means for adjusting the angular relationship between the conveyor assembly and the sheets transferred from the feeders onto the conveyor assembly, and means carried by said conveyor assembly for applying glue to the sheets as the sheets are moved along by the sheet moving means.

6. In a collator, a plurality of feeders, a conveyor assembly including a table and a conveyor for moving the sheets along on the table, means for transferring sheets from said feeders onto said table, means for pivotally supporting said table adjacent said feeders, means for adjusting the angular relationship between the table and the sheets being delivered onto the table, and means carried by said table for applying glue to sheets as they move along on said table, said last named means comprising means for applying pressure adhesive glue to the sheets at spaced points.

7. In a collator, a plurality of feeders, a conveyor, means for supporting said conveyor adjacent said feeders, means for lowering sheets from said feeders onto said conveyor, means for pivotally supporting said conveyor, means for adjusting the angular relationship between the conveyor and the sheets lowered from the feeders onto the conveyor, said means for lowering the sheets including a tubular suction pick-up member arrangedtomove into. contact with sheets. on said feeders and having a large number of closely spaced apertures in its bottom wall, and means for producing; a suction pressure in said-.pick-up member substantially equal to four inches of mercury, said last named means having a volumetric. capacity capable. of handling substantially forty cubic: feet of air per minute of free air per pick-up member.

8.. In a collating machine, a delivery platform, means for: moving sheets to be collated-v longitudinally on said delivery platform, means for applying an adhesive materiaL onto. certain of said sheets, said last named means comprising anv endless. chain having a series of glue applying fingers carried: thereby for engagement with said sheets as the. sheets move on said. platform, and. means for driving said chain at a speed substantially correspondingto thezspeed. of said sheets.

9. In a collating machine, a delivery platform, means for moving sheets to be collated longitudinally on said delivery platform, means for applying an adhesive material onto certain of said sheets, said last named means comprising anendless chain having a series of glue applying fingers carried thereby for engagement with said sheets as the sheets move on said platform, means for driving. said chain at. a speed substantially corresponding to the speed of said sheets, and meansfor adjusting the distance between said fingers and said delivery platform.

10. In a collating machine, a delivery platform, means for moving sheets longitudinally on said delivery platform,

adhesive applying means, said adhesive applying means comprising a main support, means for pivotally mounting said support for adjustment relative to said delivery platform, an adhesive supply receptacle mounted on. said support, a roller pivotally supported so. as to dip into said receptacle, an endless chain, adhesive applying fingers carried by said chain, means for supporting said chain adjacent said roller whereby said fingers are caused to contact said roller and thereafter move into contact with sheets moving on said delivery platform, and common.

operating means for said sheet moving means and. said endless chain whereby said endless chain moves in synchronism with said sheet moving means.

11. In a collating machine, a delivery platform, means for moving sheets longitudinally on said delivery platform, adhesive applying means, said adhesive applying means comprising a main support, means for pivotally mounting said support for adjustment relative to said delivery platform, an adhesive supply receptacle mounted on said support, a roller pivotally supported so. as to dip into said receptacle, an endless chain, adhesive applying fingers, carried by said chain, means for supporting said chain adjacent said roller whereby said fingers are caused tocontact said roller and thereafter move into contact with sheets moving on said delivery platform, common operating means for said sheet moving means and said endless. chain whereby said endless chain moves in synchronism: with said sheet moving means, said adhesive applying fingers comprising spring blades carried by and projectingfrom. one side of said endless chain, and guide means engaging said blades as they move into adhesive applying. position so as to press the adhesive applying fingers into engagement with the sheets on said platform.

12. A device for applying adhesive material, comprisng in combination,. a. receptacle adapted to contain a supply of, adhesive material, an endless flexible member, a series of spaced. adhesive applyingv fingers carried by said flexible member, means for moving said flexible member along a given. path, means. for. applying adhesive from said rer ceptacle to said fingers at one point along said path, and

means, for passing material, to be. supplied with adhesive in. contact with. said fingers at another point along said path, spring means for urging said fingers into engagement with said material whereby adhesive material is transferred fromsaid'fingers onto said material in a series of' spaced. spots.

References;Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,228,933. Leilich June 5, 1917 1,248,856 Henry Dec. 4, 1917 1,536,184. Ahlburg May 5, 1925 1,575,892 Ashby Mar. 9, 1926 11,587,905 Feybusch- June 8, 1926 1,698,400. Guest Jan. 8, 1929 1,865,750 Elwell July 5, 1932 1,871,707 Klupmeyer Aug. 16, 1932 2,097,587 Dearing Nov. 2, 1937 2,167,470 West July 25, 1939 2,225,990 Henry Dec. 24, 1940 2,233,935 Backhouse Mar. 4, 1941 2,239,995. Daneke Apr. 29, 1941 2,266,171 Davis Dec. 16, 1941 2,295,055 Rupp Sept. 8, 1942 2,295,073 Blythe Sept. 8, 1942 2,308,804 Dager Jan. 19, 1943 2,413,769 Kasten Jan. 7, 1947 2,464,173 Broadmeyer Mar. 8, 1949 2,542,089 Liefer Feb. 20, 1951 2,573,852 Lawrence Nov. 6, 1951 

